Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-01-20

filed me with sense Of awe [ could
not overcome. Still it attracted me. /
fingered there, walking up and down
until its very mOnotony Wearied me;
even then | was loath to leave it, and.
turning into small sitting-l0om,
stood staring idly around me. At last,
somewhere in the distance | heard q
clock strike ten, and, turning, [ decid-
ed on going back once more to my
room"
Again, emotion overcoming her Flor
ence pauses, and leans back in heI
chair.
well, but what is there in all this TO
terrify you SO muchY demands heI
cousin, somewhat bewildered.
"Ah, give me tiInel Now am com.
ing to it," replies Florence quickly.
"Yeu know the large screen that
stands in the corridor Just outside the
sitting-room / have mentioned-put
there, imagine to break the draught?
Well, had come out of the room and
was standing half-hidden by this
screen, when | saw something that
paralyZed NE with fear"
She rises to her feet and grows dead
ly pale as she says this, as though the
sensation Of fear she has been describ-
ing has come to her again.
you saw" prompts Dora, rising
too, and trembling violently, as though
in expectation Of some fatal tidings.
/ saw the door Of the room that
leads to the haunted chamber slowly
move. 1t opened; the door that has
been locked for nearly fifty years, and
that has filed the breasts of all the ser
wants here with terror and diSmay, was
cautiously thrown open! a scream
rose to my lips, but was either too ter
ritied to give utterance to it, or else
some strong determination too know
what would follow restrained me, and
l stood silent, like one turned into
stone. [ had instinctively moved back
a step or two, and was now completely
hidden from sight, though I could see
all that was passing in the corridor
through hole in the framework of
the screen. At last figure came with
hesitating footsteps from behind the
door into the full glare Of the flicker
ing lamp. [ could see him distinctly.
1t was"
arthur Dynecourt!" cries the widow,
covering her CHASTITY face with her
hands.
Florence regards her with surprise
1T was" she says at last. But how
did you guess it?"
Il knew it," cries Dora frantica1ly.
"He has murdered him, he has hidden
his body away in that forgotten cham
Der. He was glOating over his victim,
no doubt, just before you saw him,
stealing down from secret visit to
the scene Of his crime"
Dora" eXclaims Florence, grasping
her arm, eff he should not have murder
him after all, if he should only have
secured him there, holding him prison
er until he should see his way more
clearly to getting rid Of himl IF this
idea be the correct one, we may yet be
in time to save, to rescue him!"
The agitation of the past hours prov
ing now too much for her, Florence
bursts into tears and sObs wildly.
ALIAS, / dare not believe in any such
hope!" says Dora. Il know that man
too well to think him capable of show
ing any mercy"
"And yet that man, as you call him,
you would once have earnestly recon-
mended to me as q husband!" returns
Florence, sternly.
''Do not reproach NE nOw," exclaims
Dora; ''later on you shall say to me all
you wish, but now moments are pre-
ciOus."
you are right. Something must be
done. Shall I-shall [ speak to Mr..
Villiers?"
Il hardly know what to advise"-dis-
tractedly. IF we give our suspicion
publicity, Arthur Dynecourt may even
yet find time and opportunity to battle
and diSappOint us. Besides which, we
may be wrong. He may have had moth
ing to do with it, and"
AT that rate, if secrecy is to be our
first thought, let you and me go alone
in search of Sir Adrian"
alone, and at this hour, to that aw-
full rOOm!" eXclaims Dora, recoiling
from her.
Eyes, at neutrality-suspicious. an
other moments delay"
ooh, I can not!" declares Dora, shud-
dering violently.
Then L shall so aIOneI"
AS Florence says this, she takes up
her candlestick and moves quickly to-
ward the door.
''Stay, I will 60" cries Dora tremb-
ling. But a slight interruption occur
ring at this instant, they are compelled
to wait for awhile.
Ethel VillierS, coming into the room
to make her parting adieus to Mrs.
Talbot, as she and her father intend
leaving next morning, gaZes anxiously
from Florence to Dora, seeing plainly
that there is something amisS.
What is it?" she asks kindly, going
up to Florence.
Miss Delmaine, after a little hesita-
ton, encouraged by a glance at Dora's
terrified countenance, determines on
taking the newcomer into their conf
dence.
To be continued.